Zimbabwe

This continuous misleading of the citizenry on what constitutes cyber terrorism instills fear and self-censorship among citizens when exercising their rights to free expression, access to information and freedom of conscience.

On 3 August 2016, members of the riot police assaulted freelance journalists as they covered demonstrations against the Zimbabwe government’s plans to introduce bond notes, in the wake of adeteriorating socio-economic environment.

The platform had become the main communication tool Zimbabweans were using to mobilise and share information on the protest.

How singing, posting on Facebook or publishing an article can get you arrested in southern Africa.

While this judgment is a welcome development, MISA Zimbabwe remains mindful of the fact that there is a litany of statutes that can still be used to criminalise freedom of expression, including the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

“While cases pertaining to media freedom violations are somewhat on the decline, we are concerned that a number of the violations involve the assault and harassment of journalists by security personnel,” says MISA-Zimbabwe Chairperson Kumbirai Mafunda.

Two days before Itai Dzamara’s abduction, the activist delivered a speech at an opposition rally in Harare, offering solidarity with the Movement for Democratic Change party for mass protests against the deteriorating political and economic situation in Zimbabwe.

MISA-Zimbabwe notes with very grave concern recent attacks and threats against the privately owned media, by Zanu PF and government officials, including the First Lady Grace Mugabe.

As the 15 member states of SADC prepare to meet for the 34th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe on August 17 and 18, 2014, the three human rights organizations drew attention to serious human rights concerns in Angola, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Anti-riot police on August 3, 2014, beat and arrested hundreds of people at a camp housing approximately 20,000 displaced people in southern Zimbabwe. A humanitarian crisis is developing as thousands fled in fear and may be living in the open without access to food or health facilities.

While MISA Zimbabwe commends the court for this judgment, the organisation is concerned by the court’s observations that the right to freedom of expression as conferred by Section 61 “…is to be more narrowly construed as being subordinate to the value of human dignity…”

Newspaper vendor Fungai Dhori was reportedly assaulted by a group of three policemen in Harare who accused him of feeding NewsDay papers with “fictitious stories” about corruption in the police force.

More than 100 days after Robert Mugabe was re-elected as president of Zimbabwe, Freedom House examines how the government’s powers can severely limit citizens’ fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and assembly.

Human Rights Watch calls upon Robert Mugabe’s government to reaffirm the rights provisions in the new constitution, ensure justice and accountability for past abuses and uphold activists’ rights to organize and operate freely without government harassment.

Leopold Munhende was arrested while taking photographs of the voter registration process at the Registrar General’s Offices in Masvingo on 9 July 2013.

On 21 June 2013, Wendy Muperi and Wonai Masvingise, journalists with the privately-owned newspapers, Daily News and NewsDay were briefly detained by ZANU-PF security personnel while covering a demonstration at the political party’s headquarters in Harare.